Selvedge attachment for stop motions



April 26, 1960 Filed March 18, 1959 M. ANTQNEVICH SELVEDGE ATTACHMENT FOR STOP MOTIONS 3 Sheets-Sheet l FIEZ.

, INVENTOR. MICHAEL ANTONEVICH April 2 6, 1960 M. ANTONEVICH 2,933,910

, SELVEDGE ATTACHMENT FOR STOP MOTIONS Filed March 18, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvzm'on; MICHAEL ANTONEVICH ATTYS A ril 26, 1960 M. ANTONEVICH 2,933,910

SELVEDGE ATTACHMENT FOR STOP MOTIONS Filed March 18. 1959 FIG.

. 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v 'INVENTOR: BY MICHAEL ANTONEVICH w Pam 70 7 2,933,910 'JSELVEDGE ATTACHMENT-FOR STOP MOTIONS Michael Antonevich, New Brunswick, NJ., assignor to The Crawford Manufacturing Company, Inc., New Brunswick, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 18, 1959, Serial No. 800,168 7 Claims. 01. 66-166) The present invention relates to stop motions for knitting machines of the type adapted to interrupt operation of the machine upon appearance in the knitted product of defects such as holes, drop stitches, runs, or the like. -,Prior to the'present invention, when knitting goods having a selvedge, i.e., an area where the circular knitting is interrupted to form a Wale-wise row of floats commonly made when the circular knit tube is cut to form a flat fabric, it has been necessary to disengage or remove the stop motions of this type. The present invention provides an attachment for stop motion detector devices which is effective to enable the use of such stop motions with fabrics knit with av selvedge.

More particularly, a primary object of the prpesent invention is to provide a device which interrupts the action of each detector device when a selvedge in the knitted product passes into registry with the device.

Another object ofthe present invention is to provide a device of this type which is of simple construction and which is fully effective in operation and use.

More specifically, the present invention provides a device which retracts the detector element of the stop motion from, engagement with the knitted product in the area of the selvedge.

All of the objects of the present invention are more fully set forth hereinafter'with reference to the accompanying drawing; wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a circular knitting machine provided with a stop motion device embodying an attachment made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the spreader for flattening the tube prior to passage between the draw rolls;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in end elevation of the spreaderand draw rolls shown in Fig. 2;

liiie 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional view taken on the line 6-6 and 7-7 respectively of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig.5 showing a modification within the scope of the present invention; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, as seen from the Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a stop motion attachment of the type shown in US. Patent No. 2,571,211 and embodying an attachment made in accordance with the present invention. With reference to Fig. 1, the fabric C having a selvedge S is knit in a conventional manner by a rotary needle cylinder 10 and passes downwardly over a spreader 11 and between a pair of draw rolls 12, all of which rotate with the cylinder 10. The spreader 11 is supported for rotation on a fixed rod 13 depending within the cylinder 1 in a conventional manner. The stop motion device is mounted on the rod 13 as shown in the aforementioned patent and comprises a 2,933,910 Fatented Apr. 26, 1960 2 plurality of detector heads 14 mounted at spaced locations about the circumference of the needle cylinder. In the present instance, each head 14 comprises three detector fingers 21, and in operation, the outer ends of these fingers press lightly against the inner surface of the rotating fabric tube C. The fingers are slidably supported in a slide 22 of the head structure 14 and are urged outwardly by resilient means, in the present instance a tensioned spring 23 (see Fig. 5) so that when the head of one of the fingers encounters a hole of undue size in the fabric, it enters the hole. The rotation of the fabric causes the detector head 14 to rotate on its support 25 the actuate switch means which grounds the detector head and interrupts operation of the knitting machine. A reset lever is provided at 26 to return the detector head 14 to its normal position when the cause of the hole in the fabric is determined and the defect is corrected. It is apparent that in the absence of a selvedge attachment, the detector fingers 21 would be deflected each time the selvedge S passed the fingers.

In accordance with the invention, means is provided to disengage the fingers from the fabric when the selvedge passes into registry with the fingers. To this end, a deflector plate is mounted on the rod 13 for rotation with the needle cylinder in registry with the selvedge S. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the deflector plate 31 is mounted on a radial arm 32 extending from a bushing 33 which is rotatable on the rod 13 with the spreader 11 by reason of a connecting link 34. The arm 32 is adjustable on the bushing 33 as indicated at 35 to insure precise registry of the plate 31 with the selvedge S. In the present instance, the plate 31 operates as a cam against a roller 37 mounted on a bracket 38 pivoted to the detector head 14 as indicated at 39 and carrying a finger actuator 40 in the form of an upstanding shaft. The actuator 40 operates against outstanding lugs 41 secured to rearward extensions 42 of the detector fingers 21. The actuator is normally biased by a spring 44 shown in Fig. 7 toward the needle cylinder so as to be out of the path of the lugs 41. Thus, when the actuator 40 is in the broken line position of Figs. 5 and 6, it does not interfere with the normal operation of the detector fingers 21. However, as the plate 31 engages the roller 37 as the selvedge S passes into registry with the detector fingers 21, the actuator 40 is displaced rearwardly to the full line position of Fig. 6, thereby withdrawing fingers 21 from engagement with the fabric C, and permitting the selvedge to pass the detector fingers without initiating the stop motion. It is noted that the plate 31 is insulated from the shaft 32 so that the plate will not ground the detector head and initiate the stop motion.

It is possible to mount the plate for travel immediately adjacent the fabric in the area of the selvedge so that the plate engages the forward ends of the detector fingers to prevent their extension through the fabric. To this end, the plate may be arranged as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 wherein the plate 31a is mounted on a radial arm 32a similar to the arm 32 but extended into close proximity to the fabric tube C having a selvedge S'. The plate 31a is mounted on the arm 32a by an insulated connection at 33a and bears against the knitted tube C so that its inner face is substantially concentric and continuous with the remainder of the tube. Since the plate 310 rotates with the needle cylinder, the only movement of the fabric C relative to the plate is the downward movement effected by the draw rolls.

The stop motion detector head 14a of the present embodiment of the invention is substantiallyidentical to operate in the manner described in connection with the fingers 21. Since the plate 31a contacts the detector fingers at their forward ends, there is no necessity for the rearward extensions of the detector fingers which are designated 42 in Figs. l-7. It is apparent that after the selvedge S and the plate 31a pass out of registry with the detector fingers 21, the fingers are free to Operate i the conventional manner by projecting forwardly through defects in the fabric C' and cause rotation of the detector head 14a and initiation of the stop motion.

The present invention has provided an attachment for step motions having a cam element or plate mounted for rotation with the needle cylinder in registry with the selvedge of the fabric. In each embodiment ofthe invention, means including a cam element or plate isprovided to engage the detector fingers to prevent their forward movement through the selvedge of the fabric, so that the detector is inoperative in the area ofythe selvedge.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been herein illustrated and described, it is'notintended to limit the invention to such disclosure, but changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. For a knitting machine operable to knit a fabric tube having a Wale-wise extending selvedge and having a rotary needle cylinder, a stop motion device having a plurality of detector fingers mounted at several fixed stations about the periphery of said knitting machine interiorly of said cylinder, means biasing said fingers into engagement with said fabric tube, means actuated in response to passage of the fingers through the fabric and continued rotation of the cylinder to initiate a stop motion for the knitting machine, and an attachment in cluding means mounted for rotation with the needle cylinder in registry with said selvedge and operable to actuate said detector fingers and prevent outward projection thereof through said tube upon passage .of said selvedge into registry with said detector fingers.

2. Apparatus according to claim l wherein said means actuating the detector fingers comprises a cam plate mounted for rotation with said needle cylinder.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of said detector fingers include an outstanding lug, said finger-actuating means including a lug-engaging element mounted for movement into and out of the normal path of movement of said lug with said fingers and having a follower element in the path of movement of said cam plate operable upon passage of said cam plate into registry with said follower element to displace said lug-engaging element into the path of movement of said lugs to actuate said detector fingers and prevent forward extension of the fingers through the fabric tube in the area of the selvedge.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said fingers are mounted in a detector head, and including a bracket .gssasm a g 4 mounting said lug-engaging and follower elements; pivoted to the detector head and biased toward said needle cylinder, said plate being operable to pass between said follower element and said cylinder to pivot the bracket and the lug-engaging element away from said cylinder into engagement with said lugs.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cam plate is mounted in engagement with said fabric tube in the area of said selvedge whereby upon rotation'of said tube and plate into registry with said detector fingers, said plate engages the forward end of said fingers to preclude outward displacement thereof through said tube.

6. For a knitting machine operable to knit a fabric tube having a Wale-wise extending selvedge and having a rotary needle cylinder, draw rolls for causing a knitted tubular fabric to pass downwardly from said needles through the cylinder and a spreader intermediate said cylinder and said draw rolls to guide the fabric into a fiat tube, a stop motion device having a plurality of detector fingers mounted at several fixed stations about the periphery of said knitting machine interiorly of said cylinder, means biasing said fingers into engagement with said fabric tube, means actuated in response to passage of the fingers through the fabric and continued rotation of the cylinder to initiate a stop motion for the knitting machine, and an attachment including means mounted on said spreader for rotation with the needle cylinder in registry with said selvedge and operable to actuate said detector fingers and prevent outward projection thereof through said tube upon passage of said selvedge into registry with said detector fingers.

7. Fora circular knitting machine operable to knit a fabric tube having a Wale-wise extending selvedge and having a rotary needle cylinder,'a stop motion device having at least one pivotally mounted detector finger located at a fixed station within the periphery of said needle cylinder, spring means biasing said finger into engage ment with said fabric tube, switch means actuated in response to the pivoting of said finger upon passage of said finger through said fabric tube and the continued rotation of said cylinder to initiate an electrical stop motion for said knitting machine, and an attachment including cam means mounted for rotation with said needle cylinder in registry with said selvedge and operable to remove said detector finger from engagement with said fabric tube and prevent outward projection thereof through said fabric tube upon passage of'said selvedge into registry with said detector finger. Y

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

